The BC Lions made their final roster cuts on June 1 which saw them release 12 players.  Among the released players was 2022 CFL All-Star defensive back Marcus Sayles who signed a 2 year extension in February. Reflecting on the performances made by these 12 players over the preseason.

Released Players: Released: Running back Percy Agyei-Obese*, defensive back Siriman Bagayogo, defensive lineman Sam Burton*, defensive back Chris Cooper*, wide receiver Jeff Cotton*, offensive lineman Jean Delance*, wide receiver Ed Lee*, linebacker Forrest Rhyne*, wide receiver Jalen Sample*, defensive back Marcus Sayles*, defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor*, offensive lineman Maea Teuhema*

RB Percy Agyei-Obese – James Madison

Preseason stats: 9 carries, 39 yards, 4.3 avg, 4 receptions for 15 yards

I thought Percy Agyei-Obese had a strong preseason but he was in a position in which the odds were not in his favor to make the team as a runningback given the current makeup of the roster. He did a good job fighting for extra yards on his touches and proved to be difficult for defenses to bring down with a good ability to stay on his feet. He is listed at 213 pounds but still managed to break some tackles and help in pass protection.

In the first game, he rushed 4 times for only 7 yards against Calgary and had a reception for 6 yards. They were all runs up the middle with nowhere to go although he still had a nice 6 yard carry. In the 2nd game, he rushed 5 times for 32 yards against Edmonton who unlike last season was making a pretty good amount of run stops. He also had 3 receptions for 9 yards in that game.

He played well enough in the preseason that I would be comfortable to have him in a regular season lineup but there’s just not room on the team for him at this time.

DB Siriman Bagayogo – Guelph

Bagayogo played as a 2nd string cornerback in both preseason games. He did not record a tackle nor make a very big impact in either game but as a cornerback that is not always a bad thing. His release is a surprise as he was a 2nd round draft pick a year ago when he was a prospect good enough to receive an NFL mini-camp invite with Kansas City last year. Last season he dressed as a 2nd-string cornerback in every game for the Lions except for the first 4 games of the season.

DL Sam Burton – Marshall

Preseason stats: 2 tackles, 2 QB hurries

Burton had a tackle in both games. In the 2nd preseason game, his tackle was a run stop at the goal line and he also had 2 QB hurries against Edmonton.

DB Chris Cooper – Stony Brook

Preseason stats: 6 tackles, 2 passes defended, 1 QB hurry

Chris Cooper had 3 tackles in each preseason game. He also broke up 2 passes over the preseason. He made a stop against the run and another tackle constituted a stop against the pass. He also had 1 QB hurry. He did have a couple of tackles get away from him in the preseason when he came in with speed due to a well-timed move from the receiver. I thought he played well in coverage.

WR Jeff Cotton – Idaho

Preseason stats: 4 receptions, 32 yards

Jeff Cotton played well this preseason which saw him catch 4 passes for 32 yards. He demonstrated good strength which saw him nicely break a tackle on a play. He did have 1 drop in the preseason which did not help his chances to make the team.

OL Jean Delance – Florida

Delance played as a right tackle in both games. He started in the game against Calgary and was a 2nd string in the game against Edmonton. He did allow 1 pressure in the game against Calgary but other than that he had a strong preseason with the team.

WR Ed Lee – Rhode Island

Preseason stats: 4 receptions, 52 yards, 13 avg, 18 LG

Ed Lee caught 4 of his 8 targets in the game against Calgary for 52 yards. The fact that he only caught half his targets would lead one to think he may not be a reliable pass catcher just looking at the stats but visually that was not the case. He had a fantastic catch over the middle late in the game in which he got rocked as he caught the ball and did a good job maintaining the catch. The incompletions were not in catchable situations.

LB Forrest Rhyne – Villanova

Rhyne dressed as a 5th-string middle linebacker in the game against Edmonton but was too far down the depth chart to make a notable impact in the preseason game.

WR Jalen Sample – Minnesota State

Preseason stats: 3 receptions, 47 yards

Jalen Sample caught 3 of his 4 targets in the preseason for 47 yards. His longest catch was a 20-yard reception as he took a low hit just after he caught it but still made the catch. He had a similar-looking catch for 19 yards in the game against Calgary. He also drew a pass interference penalty. His only target that was not caught was due to a breakup from Titus Wall.

DB Marcus Sayles – West Georgia

Preseason stats: 1 tackle

This release was a surprise and he has already landed with another team quickly signing with Saskatchewan. He played in the 2nd game in which he recorded 1 tackle against Edmonton. Sayles was a CFL All-Star in 2022 with Winnipeg.

DL Demetrius Taylor – Appalachian State

Preseason stats: 2 QB hurries

Demetrius Taylor had 2 QB hurries in the game against Edmonton which saw both plays result in incompletions. He was listed as a 4th string nose tackle in the game. He was not rostered in the 1st preseason game.

OL Maea Teuhema – Southeastern Louisiana

Teuhema was a 1st string left tackle in the game against Calgary and a 2nd string tackle in the game against Edmonton. By my count, he did not allow any pressures in the preseason.

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